The Issue

Why this Matters So Much to You…

The World Climate Summit named Deforestation as a primary cause of climate change, and 110 nations signed on to end deforestation by 2030. So how can it make any sense to clear-cut huge swaths of precious old forest (70-100 year old forest) to work against climate change? The ability of a forest to sequester carbon grows exponentially as the forest ages. Furthermore, destruction of old forests releases tremendous amounts of carbon into the environment. Yet, decimating these trees is what is being brought into our communities by large corporations. Under the thin guise of fighting against climate change, the non-local multi-national solar industry is trying to push us into sacrificing our town’s forestlands for their own profit. They want clear-cut over 400 acres of forest in Amherst, Shutesbury, Pelham and Belchertown to build huge ground mounted solar arrays so they can sell this electricity to the electric company for their own profit. This is unacceptable. Smart Solar Western Mass is a coalition of residents from Amherst, Shutesbury, Pelham and Belchertown, working to stop this insanity.

With thousands of acres of unforested, degraded landscapes in our state that are ideal for large-scale, ground-mounted solar installations, clear-cutting precious forest for solar is absolutely wrong.

As Bill Moomaw irrefutably shows in his presentation for the Smart Solar Forum, the forests between the Quabbin and the Connecticut river are particularly strong in their carbon sequestration in contrast to other New England forests. In addition to carbon sequestration, forests play a key role in erosion and flood control. Many of the sites are uphill from town water supplies, like Atkins reservoir. The zones they intend to rupture have been cited by both the town of Amherst and Shutesbury to be key zones to protect for the sake of our drinking water. Erosion on these hilly landscapes leads to flooding and it destroys the chemical balance of water and soil. (See Emily’s Story) In addition to this, these forests provide habitat and corridors for many species of animals, bird, insects, plants and mycelium. The land owner, like all land owners, has the responsibility to be in the role of land steward and to take the good of the community and planet into account over personal profit. Though we are aware that the forests are privately owned by the largest landowner in Massachusetts, we are aware that there is not a single landowner in our state who can do whatever they want on their land without regard for the impact on their community. Every landowner has the responsibility to be a steward on behalf of their human and non-human community as well as for the planet.

Please Join Us to help avert this disaster.